Roppongi

Ten years ago, a visit to the Roppongi district of Tokyo meant you were either visiting an embassy or going out to party with the foreigner community. While Roppongi remains one of Tokyo’s best nightlife districts, particularly with foreigners, the city of Tokyo has successfully broadened the appeal of Roppongi to include foreigners, locals and domestic tourists with a wider variety of entertainment options.

Perhaps the most influential and much-anticipated development project was of Roppongi Hills, a behemoth modern shopping and entertainment complex housed at the base of Mori Tower. Apart from the upscale shopping options, Roppongi Hills is home to the Mori Arts Center Gallery, Mori Art Museum and Tokyo City View, a viewing platform with 360-degree views from 820 feet (250 meters) above ground.

Elsewhere in Roppongi, you’ll also find a second entertainment and shopping complex (Tokyo Midtown) and the National Art Center Tokyo. The area includes a sizable collection of international restaurants and a nightlife scene that starts late -- usually near midnight -- and rages on until early morning when the first trains begin to run.